Letters to the editor, 7/10

Impossible to run club on city's Main Street

Regarding your story about the Bull and Buddha ( "Video: Bull and Buddha faces charges" June 29), your article states that it may be shut down because the State Liquor Authority filed "some serious charges" against the restaurant-club relating to five fights that took place at the restaurant over an 18-month period - meaning one fight every three or four months - and two excess noise and disturbances complaints "in and near" the establishment such that it has become a "focal point for police attention."

If the owner has significant security and pats down its customers for weapons, what else does the State Liquor Authority expect the owner to do? Why should the owner be responsible for the foolish actions of others? Perhaps the owner should refuse admittance to those who "look like trouble." Of course, the owner would then lose his license for discrimination.

Your article further states that state law requires the police to notify the State Liquor Authority every time the police "file a charge" at an establishment. City of Poughkeepsie Police Chief Ron Knapp stated that he notifies the State Liquor Authority every time he is called to an establishment, whether or not any charges are filed. No bar owner could be happy with this, especially if you know how difficult and expensive it will be to fight with the bureaucracy of the State Liquor Authority.

The lesson here is that it is virtually impossible to run a nightclub, perhaps even a bar, on Main Street in Poughkeepsie.

Jeff Feigelson

Millbrook

Providing arms to rebels only promotes violence

There are many crises in the Middle East. The most recent is in Syria.

Middle East Crisis Response is opposed to the U.S. sending military aid to the so-called "rebel" forces. MECR deplores the violence of both the Assad government and the opposition forces. We support the use of diplomacy and other nonviolent means to resolve this bloody conflict, and we believe that it is only the Syrian people who have the right to determine their own futures.

Providing more military weaponry to anyone in Syria will only enhance the possibility of more violence; unfortunately, the victims of this violence are predominantly civilians - men, women, and children who are left dead or mutilated, homeless or stateless.

Sadly, while civilians suffer and die, the only real beneficiaries of supplying weapons are the weapons manufacturers and dealers, who line their pockets, often with taxpayer money.

The U.S. has no business engaging in regime change in the Middle East (or anywhere else). U.S. intervention is catastrophic and results in widespread death, destruction, and corruption - one only has to look at Iraq, Libya, or Afghanistan. The only place we should be engaged in regime change is right here in the U.S.A.

Nic Abramson

Pia Alexander

Eli Kassirer

Jim Mays

Helaine Meisler

Fred Nagel

Katja Rehm

Paul Rehm

Jane Toby

Middle East Crisis Response Steering Committee

Woodstock

Post office potholes: source of aggravation

A few months ago I sent a letter to the editor questioning the justification of the Wappingers Falls post office not fixing the potholes in their parking lot.

Now finally as of June 25, the potholes have been fixed, but I wondered why they didn't fix the three potholes in the employee's parking lot. Since a contractor had been hired it probably would have cost an additional $50? Now it will cost them hundreds or thousands in the future.

Approximately five weeks ago, I stopped in to see the postmaster. I was informed that he wasn't in. I then sent an email to the U.S. Postal Service. I was able to break it down to ZIP code 12590 and explain my concern about the potholes.

On June 10, I received an email from U.S. Postal Service, asking me to complete their short five-minute survey, which I did, after receiving a second request. They wanted me to rate on a scale of 1 to 10 my satisfaction with the response concerning the potholes.

I gave them a 1 for totally dissatisfied, since I had no response.

I still have heard nothing from the postmaster or anyone at our local post office.

I do want to say that we are very happy with the delivery of our mail and the dealing with the staff at the counter. I have a feeling that these employees would do a good job whether or not they had a supervisor.

I wonder if they have a postmaster?

John Beale

Wappingers Falls

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Letters to the editor, 7/10

Regarding your story about the Bull and Buddha ( 'Video: Bull and Buddha faces charges' June 29), your article states that it may be shut down because the State Liquor Authority filed 'some serious